Business review extended to June

Northport's business moratorium awaits consultant's report

The Northport City Council on Monday unanimously approved extending its moratorium on tattoo shops, tobacco stores, pawn shops and similar businesses until June 17.

Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Lydia Seabol AvantStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

NORTHPORT | The Northport City Council on Monday unanimously approved extending its moratorium on tattoo shops, tobacco stores, pawn shops and similar businesses until June 17.

According to Northport Retail Development Director Alan Harper, the extended time is needed so a study can be completed on the impact of select businesses in the city.

In November, the City Council voted to conduct a joint study with the city of Tuscaloosa that looks at how certain businesses impact the two cities. The study is being done by Cooper Consulting Co. for $40,540, and the cost is being split evenly ­between the two cities.

The study will be finished in late March or early April, but the city staff will need time to review the findings before the council can move forward, said Council President Jay Logan.

“The staff need enough time to digest the information so that I can present it to the council,” Logan said. “Both cities need time to look at it and decide whether or not to take action.”

According to preliminary findings, Northport has more of these type businesses than Tuscaloosa, per capita, Harper said.

“There are roughly 40 businesses in the group in Northport,” Harper said, adding that there are about the same number of those types of businesses in Tuscaloosa, even though the population of Tuscaloosa is more than triple that of Northport.

In Northport, there are five pawn shops, four of which are on McFarland Boulevard, 26 title loan/cash advance businesses, 19 of which are on McFarland Boulevard and four of which are on Lurleen Wallace Boulevard. Northport has six hand carwashes, four tobacco outlets and three tattoo shops.

Of the businesses, all but six are located either on McFarland Boulevard or Lurleen Wallace, according to data provided by the city.

In September, the city originally placed a six-month temporary moratorium on the opening of any new tattoo and piercing parlors, pawnshops, title loan shops, payday loan operations, cash-and-go businesses, check-­cashing stores, tobacco shops, adult bookstores, sex item shops and hand car wash businesses.

The city permanently banned fireworks stands within city limits last month.

Northport's original moratorium was in response to Tuscaloosa City Councilman Kip Tyner's proposal to ban similar businesses within the city of Tuscaloosa's mixed-use zones, which already limit the number of businesses that can operate as check-cashing operations, pawnshops, payday loan services, sexually oriented or adult-based entertainment stores, tattoo or body piercing parlors, title loan businesses, tobacco shops or vehicle repair services.

Once Northport took action, the Tuscaloosa City Council considered banning the same types of businesses out of concern that Northport's ban would push them across the river. However, the Tuscaloosa City Council opted not to pursue the ban on Oct. 9 and instead decided conduct a study on the effects of these businesses.

The consultants doing the study will meet with local business owners on Feb. 28, with meetings lasting all day, Harper said. On March 1, the consultants will meet jointly with Tuscaloosa and Northport city staff and some elected officials to discuss the study.

<p>NORTHPORT | The Northport City Council on Monday unanimously approved extending its moratorium on tattoo shops, tobacco stores, pawn shops and similar businesses until June 17. </p><p>According to Northport Retail Development Director Alan Harper, the extended time is needed so a study can be completed on the impact of select businesses in the city.</p><p>In November, the City Council voted to conduct a joint study with the city of Tuscaloosa that looks at how certain businesses impact the two cities. The study is being done by Cooper Consulting Co. for $40,540, and the cost is being split evenly ­between the two cities.</p><p>The study will be finished in late March or early April, but the city staff will need time to review the findings before the council can move forward, said Council President Jay Logan. </p><p>“The staff need enough time to digest the information so that I can present it to the council,” Logan said. “Both cities need time to look at it and decide whether or not to take action.”</p><p>According to preliminary findings, Northport has more of these type businesses than Tuscaloosa, per capita, Harper said. </p><p>“There are roughly 40 businesses in the group in Northport,” Harper said, adding that there are about the same number of those types of businesses in Tuscaloosa, even though the population of Tuscaloosa is more than triple that of Northport.</p><p>In Northport, there are five pawn shops, four of which are on McFarland Boulevard, 26 title loan/cash advance businesses, 19 of which are on McFarland Boulevard and four of which are on Lurleen Wallace Boulevard. Northport has six hand carwashes, four tobacco outlets and three tattoo shops. </p><p>Of the businesses, all but six are located either on McFarland Boulevard or Lurleen Wallace, according to data provided by the city. </p><p>In September, the city originally placed a six-month temporary moratorium on the opening of any new tattoo and piercing parlors, pawnshops, title loan shops, payday loan operations, cash-and-go businesses, check-­cashing stores, tobacco shops, adult bookstores, sex item shops and hand car wash businesses. </p><p>The city permanently banned fireworks stands within city limits last month. </p><p>Northport's original moratorium was in response to Tuscaloosa City Councilman Kip Tyner's proposal to ban similar businesses within the city of Tuscaloosa's mixed-use zones, which already limit the number of businesses that can operate as check-cashing operations, pawnshops, payday loan services, sexually oriented or adult-based entertainment stores, tattoo or body piercing parlors, title loan businesses, tobacco shops or vehicle repair services.</p><p>Once Northport took action, the Tuscaloosa City Council considered banning the same types of businesses out of concern that Northport's ban would push them across the river. However, the Tuscaloosa City Council opted not to pursue the ban on Oct. 9 and instead decided conduct a study on the effects of these businesses.</p><p>The consultants doing the study will meet with local business owners on Feb. 28, with meetings lasting all day, Harper said. On March 1, the consultants will meet jointly with Tuscaloosa and Northport city staff and some elected officials to discuss the study. </p><p>Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabol</p><p>avant@tuscaloosanews.com.</p>